Blountsville TN019

supportedunresolved Jones says the Federal movements were only to ascertain his position, and that Burnside's letter asking him to warn non-combatants reached his advanced picket about 4.30 p.m., after the village had already burned. Foster had reported on September 19 that from the best information he was satisfied of the force at Zollicoffer. Jones says news of Chickamauga reached him, and he presumed Burnside, on the evening of the 22d.

Attributed knowledge from interested accounts; Burnside's letter itself is not inspected.

supportedunresolved Jones says that, having little or no field transportation, he depended on the railroad for supplies, with two railroad bridges over the Watauga and Holston in his rear. Foster says that on September 19 he tore up the railroad and burned bridges above Bristol. Jones says he withdrew Williams from Carter's Depot on the night of the 22d, bringing away all stores.

Supply statements from interested accounts on both sides; the Bristol raid is context before the interval.

supportedunresolved The frozen description says Burnside's expedition aimed to clear the roads and gaps to Virginia and if possible secure the saltworks beyond Abingdon, and calls Blountsville the first step in forcing Sam Jones from East Tennessee. Jones says his aim was to check and detain a greatly superior force with an inferior one, and that he believed Burnside meant to hold his attention at Zollicoffer while surrounding the troops at Carter's Depot.

Stated aims and an opponent's inference of intent; not a causal estimate.

supportedpost_outcome The frozen and live results read Union victory. The frozen description says the Confederates were compelled to withdraw. Foster says he captured about 50 prisoners and one piece of artillery ('I piece' in OCR). Jones says he withdrew Williams from Carter's Depot to Zollicoffer on the night of the 22d.

Retain the original result and engagement interval; later movements and campaign contribution are different measures. No new probabilities or individual causal credit.

disputedpost_outcome Foster says the Confederate shells set fire to the town and a great portion was consumed. Jones says the Federals, in an artillery duel with one of his batteries, fired upon and burned the best part of the village.

Opposing attributions from interested commanders; not reconciled.

disputedpost_outcome The frozen and live casualty fields give 192 (US 27; CS 165). Foster gives his loss as about 6 killed and 14 wounded, mostly of the 65th Indiana, and about 50 prisoners taken.

Original casualty returns were not inspected; preserve totals, categories, cutoffs and differences. No canonical reconciliation or casualty-based opening count; related actions must not be added without resolving population overlap.

disputedunresolved Foster says he met the enemy at Hall's Ford at 9 in the morning and dislodged the Confederates after four hours' fighting by a charge of the 65th Indiana Mounted Infantry, 5th Indiana Cavalry and 8th Tennessee Cavalry just before dark; the frozen description says he attacked at noon in a four-hour battle. Jones does not name the Blountsville commander. The frozen and live commanders are Colonels John W. Foster and James E. Carter.

The clocks differ between the frozen description and Foster's report; the frozen commanders do not receive automatic sole credit.

unknownunresolved

No inspected return establishes matched personnel at a common opening boundary. Imported numerical estimates remain unchanged; this pass does not validate them as simultaneous opening forces.

supportedunresolved The frozen force field gives the 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, XXIII Corps, and the 1st Tennessee Cavalry with artillery, approximately 1,200; only the Confederate side has an imported bound, and the live field is blank. Foster says he met a heavy picket force of cavalry and then a chosen position with four pieces of artillery. On September 19 he reported the force at Zollicoffer as about 6,000, mostly infantry; Jones put the Union force that engaged him on September 20 at not less than 2,000 mounted men with six guns.

Earlier reports concern other places and dates; none is adopted as matched opening strength. The live blank is not measured absence.

supportedunresolved Foster says the Confederates disputed his passage over both rivers at Hall's Ford on the Watauga, and then held a chosen position near the town. Jones places Blountsville 6 miles west of Zollicoffer. The frozen description says Foster shelled the town and began a flanking movement.

Crossings and a position described by the attacker and the opposing department commander; no map verification.